Don't Forget the Kids When You Move!

Don't Forget the Kids When You Move!
ERA TUCKER ASSOCIATES, INC offers tips to help parents involve children in home buying process

NANUET, NY (Grassroots Newswire) 11/24/2008 -- Moving can be a traumatic experience for some children. Leaving the friends and the home they've known and moving to a new home in a new neighborhood can be a stressful time for both children and parents. Including your children in the home buying process can help alleviate the stressful feelings they may experience during a move.

Working with a real estate agent who understands the needs of families can make a big difference in how you and your children experience buying a home. "Many of us here are parents and know just how stressful the moving process can be on the entire family," said Sharon Tucker of ERA Tucker Associates, It is our job as real estate professionals to address the needs of every one of our customers, regardless of age. ERA Real Estate has many unique tools to help the entire family navigate the home buying process together."

ERA Tucker Associates offers the following tips for making the home buying process a smooth one for the whole family:

1. Inform your children early about the move - giving them information at the beginning will make the process less stressful. Tell your children when you plan to put the house on the market, when and why you want to move, where you would like to go, etc. The process can be a long and arduous one, so update them regularly and keep them involved. Let them know when your house will be shown; bring them along for a walk-through of the houses you are seriously considering; tell them about the closing process when you are confident the home will become yours; and have them join you for the inspection or any other milestone activities, if appropriate.

2. Take your children on a tour of the neighborhoods you are considering - getting their input can make them feel involved in the process. Include schools, local parks and other recreational areas as part of the tour so they can get a sense of where they might participate in extracurricular activities. Listen to, and address, their input and concerns.

3. Engage even young children in the process - providing age appropriate activities that are related to buying a home will help them become comfortable with the process. To do just that, ERA Real Estate, has introduced ERA Kids, a Web based interactive application on ERA.com that engages even the youngest members of the family. The program features downloadable coloring and sticker books and online interactive programs. One portion of the program uses images of homes on the market to create line drawings that can be used in the unique "Paint Your House" tool. Children are able to "paint" the potential homes that their parents are considering, using their computer.

4. Educate your children about the home buying process - understanding the process can make it seem less overwhelming. Introduce them to your real estate agent and show them the real estate agent's office. Explain how the process works between the buyers and sellers. Tailor the information to the child's age: older children can benefit from the opportunity to learn about mortgages, interest rates, inspections, etc.

5. Have fun - A move is a great time to let your child's personality shine through! When you are considering a home, you and your children can use the ERA Floor Plan tool on ERA.com to develop the perfect room layouts for your family. Once moved in, allow them to help decorate their new room and play area or give them a chance to participate in choosing new furniture and in making other interior design decisions.